Busy Beer Weekend Coming in February! 2012

Just want to get this onto your radar. In about a months timing there will be a pretty huge beer weekend in Colorado Springs. For some of the events you need to register in advance to participate so check out what's happening on Feb. 17th and 18th, 2012. More events may be added on at the last minute too, but here's what's happening so far...read more for info on Trinity's Brain of the Turtle Release, Peterson Air Force Base Homebrew Party, Rocky Mountain Microbrewing Symposium, and the Firkin Rendezvous at Bristol!

Friday February 17th
Brain of the Turtle Bottle Release - At Trinity Brewing - 5pm

Many have said this was the beer of the year in 2011, and that it was the most impressive beer at GABF. It sold out quickly last time so here's your chance to pick it up again. Also, there may be a lot of beer industry folks here because of the symposium the next day at UCCS. Here's the info on the beer:

Our Petite cerise is the second running of the massive amount of cherries we use to brew The Flavor. Aged on oaken barrels, coffee, almonds, and cherries, this special beer features a notable earthiness, distinct barnyard, bitter leather, heavy lactic, dark dried cherry skin tannins, and a very creamy character. 5.8% ABV.

Peterson Air Force Base Homebrew Festival and Awards - 
At Peterson Club - 5:30-10pm

An award party for the second largest homebrew competition in all of Colorado. Awards will be handed out and a party will be had! Organized in part by the local homebrew club the Brew Brothers of Pikes Peak, these guys know how to throw a party. You'll get to sample homebrewed beer as well as beer from local breweries. Additionally, the beer made by the Brew Bros club and brewed up at Rockyard will be released this night! $9 for Peterson Club members and $12 for general entry.

For the homebrewer that wants to drop off entries:
Entries: Entries will be accepted Jan 25 – Feb 2, 2012. Entry fee is $5 each and $20 for unlimited. You can only enter one beer per BJCP sub-category. Each entry consists of two (2) bottles, entry fee and an entry/recipe form. Each bottle must have a bottle ID form attached with rubber bands.
Bottles must have no labels, or other identifying markings (besides the bottle ID form). Here are links for the Entry/recipe forms and ID forms can be found at these websites:

Drop your beer off (8 AM to 4 PM) or ship your beer to the club by Feb 2nd: 260 Glasgow Ave, Building 1013, Peterson AFB, CO 80914.
Or drop off at these alternative sites: Stomp Them Grapes in Denver, Hops & Berries in Ft. Collins, or The Brew Hut in Aurora. Contact me through our contact page for other Colorado Springs drop offs.

Rocky Mountain Microbrewing Symposium 2012 - 
At UCCS - 8am-5pm

Not a lot of information has been published about who will be speaking this year. Last year this symposium was really great, industry leaders from all over Colorado came to talk about pertinent topics. There were lectures about hops, brettanomyces, local malting, starting a brewery and more. Here's our recap from last year. The symposium is geared for professional brewers but all are welcomed to attend, and many homebrewers were there to learn too. You also have an opportunity to meet other beer folks, and Trinity will be hosting a dinner afterward just down the street at their brewpub. The dinner will be available to attendees and you'll get $1 Trinity draught beers. Here's the menu:

1)  Sunna Wit pasta salad 2)  Soul Horkey Deviled Eggs 3)  Farmhouse Du Baze Quinoa (Palisade apple and Chicory Saison) 4)  Flo IPA Spicy Meatballs 5)  Stop Making Sense (Eis Bock) Short Ribs

The conference quite spendy for $145, unless you work at UCCS, in which case it's free. But, with that said, many industry people believe it to be a very informative and important conference. Some additional information can be found here.

Saturday February 18th
Firkin Rendezvous - At Bristol Brewing - 1-5pm

The Firkin Rendezvous was one of our favorite festivals last year and it's just around the corner again already. Breweries from all over the state take a shot at making some cask conditioned beer, so if the beer is not already a one-off, it's usually different than usual because it's cask. We were very pleased with the fest last year, here's a recap. The festival will benefit the Colorado Brewer's Guild. Tickets will for sure sell out so you better get them now! $35 regular / $50 VIP - Call 719-633-2555 x11
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Eric Steen

Eric founded Focus on the Beer in 2010. 

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